Noise: Noise mapping
Noise mapping England
Defra has released a new set of noise maps for England.
On the Noise Mapping England website, you can find interactive noise maps for cities and large urban areas. You can search by postcode and view airports.
On this website, you can download noise maps of the major transportation links between cities and large urban areas.
About the noise maps
The noise maps provide an overview of the ambient noise climate in cities and major transportation sources in England.
Ambient or environmental noise is unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human activities. This includes noise created by transportation, such as road, rail and air traffic, and from industrial activity.
The maps account for the number of people affected by different levels of ambient noise, the source of that noise (i.e. road, rail, air or industry) and the locations of the people affected.
The mapping was carried out during 2006-07 in line with the Department’s work to implement the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive. They incorporate the noise maps produced for the 18 English airports that were published last December.
Regulations
These noise maps have been produced to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 and Directive 2002/49/EC – more commonly known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END) – and are intended to inform the production of noise action plans, which are to be developed on a five year rolling programme.
The action plans will seek to manage noise issues and effects including noise reduction if necessary, based on the results obtained through the mapping process.
Next steps
The next stage of the Department’s work to implement the directive will be to develop action plans. This will include a public consultation.
Page last modified: 16 May 2008